16 LIBRARY 



of fossils. About 15,000 species are represented, comprised for the most 

 part of the Jay and Haines collections. 



Mammalogy and Ornithology. — Mammalogy. — The study collection 

 of mammals contains about 35,000 skins, skulls and skeletons exclusive 

 of the material obtained by the Congo Expedition which has not yet been 

 catalogued. It is especially rich in South American forms. Mexico 

 and the Arctic are well represented; from the latter region there is a 

 large and unique series of the beautiful white Peary's caribou and of the 

 Greenland muskox, comprising about 150 specimens. The collection 

 of whales is likewise noteworthy. 



Ornithology. — The study collection of birds consists of approximately 

 125,000 skins and mounted birds, al)out nine-tenths of which are from 

 the Western Hemisphere, and several thousand nests and eggs. South 

 America is chiefly represented l)y a large collection from Matto Grosso, 

 Brazil, and extensive collections from Colomljia; also smaller series from 

 Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Trinidad . 



From North America, there are important collections from Mexico, 

 Nicaragua, California, Texas, Arizona and the Middle Atlantic States — 

 the Rocky Mountain region being most poorly represented. Of special 

 collections, the George N. Lawrence and Maximilian collections are of 

 special importance from the hundreds of type specimens which they 

 contain. 



Mineralogy. — Most of the mineral specimen are on exhibition, but 

 the overflow from the pul)lic cases forms a study series of no mean propor- 

 tion. 



Public Health. — Living bacteria are maintained and distrilnitcd free 

 to recognized laboratories. 



Vertebrate Palceontology. — The study collections comprise about 

 15,000 catalogued specimens of fossil mammals, 6,000 fossil reptiles and 

 amphibians and a few huiidred fossil birds. Most of these are from the 

 western LTnited States. The collections of fossil horses. Eocene mam- 

 mals and Cretaceous dinosaurs are unrivaled. The fossil rhinoceroses, 

 camels, oreodonts, carnivora, Fayum, Pampean and Patagonian mam- 

 mals, Jurassic dinosaurs, Permian reptiles, turtles, etc., are likewise 

 of the first rank. They include more than nine hundred type specimens 

 of fossil mammals and several huntlred type specimens of fossil reptiles 

 and amphil)ians. 



The Museum Library, located on the fifth floor, contains about 70,000 



volumes on various branches of natural history (save 



botany), anthropology and travel. It is particularly 



strong in vertebrate pakeontology and scientific periodicals. Like other 



museum libraries, it is of necessity a reference library, but, except on 



